Heeling Tips & Tricks #20

Heeling video 20 Teaching
 
First Step Of Heeling With FOCUS!

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The First Step is the beginning of your heeling.  It can make or break a performance.  Take Extra care in training the first step!

When heeling, my goal is to have heads up attention from my dog.  This criteria implies that my dog’s head remains up when we do the first step off into heeling.  It is for this reason that I like to practice the first step of heeling separately from other skills.

Once adding starts or the first step from a sit into a heeling sequence, I randomly reward just the start to keep my dog energized, focused, and ready to heel.  When training, if you start heeling from a sit, you must make sure your criteria are being met, OR instead play with your dog and then fall into heeling without doing a sit.

Footwork for the First Step

• Start with your weight slightly on the balls of your feet. The left foot will start the step off to heel. This is the leg closest to your dog and is easiest for him to pick up the cue.
• As you are stepping off, present a treat in your right hand saying “get it” for your dog. Your dog will jump up and slightly forward to the toy/treat.
• Bringing the toy/treat forward and up will encourage your dog to drive off his rear end in order to get the reward.
• NOTE: watch over rotation of your shoulders as you present the dog’s reward.
• Play and engage before repeating the “start”.  DESIRE first.
• Commands for the first step – Say your command and THEN step off with your left foot.  When showing, I actually like to take a breath and then step off.
• When working on starts, watch your line-up to start your training.  That is, a sit in heel is still a sit in heel and should be to your criteria and with heads up focus.
• Keep your weight on your toes and step straight forward on the first step. NO rocking back on your heels before stepping off. Rocking back on your heels can delay your step off and a responsive dog will seem to anticipate commands.
• Make sure to say your command, take a breath, and then step off.  This gives your dog a second to process the command and react accordingly.
• Keep starts FUN! Add games and upward releases on your first step of heeling randomly throughout your dog’s career.

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😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – 21 – Heeling progression – raised hand and wean off of treat in hand

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